Christian Reflection and Prayer

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING !

Let the Child and Joseph and Mary teach
us the dignity and importance of children
and families in a society so neglectful of them.

Scripture:

Micah 5:2-5a

Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-55

Prayer:

Adult:
O Jesus Christ, Holy Wisdom,
come and teach us your way;
Word of life, Word made flesh,
come, speak your truth.

Child:
Jesus, come and teach me,
how to sing and play,
how to learn new words;
tell me what to say.
Teach me how to be a child,
for you know the way.

WHAT A GIFT?

Scripture:

"He Who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things". (Romans 8:32)

Reflection:

There is a beautiful story that took
place in a small town in Mexico.
It was Christmas time and time to
place the nativity scene in front of
the church. Within the manger was
a very valuable, old, statue of the
baby Jesus. This was a poor
congregation and they took pride
in this baby Jesus statue. The
Priest was concerned that some-
one may steal the baby Jesus and
preached several sermons of his
concern of a possible theft. He
pointed out the penality for the
sin of theft.
Sure enough, the Sunday before
Christmas, the statue of the baby
Jesus turned up missing.
The local police were immediately
called, and a extensive search was
begun. The statue and the thief were
not found. On Christmas
day the congregation gathered, deeply
saddened. As the Priest approached
the pulpit to speak, a little boy with
a beaten up red wagon entered the
chuch. Within the wagon was the
statue of the baby Jesus. The little
boy nervously walked down the middle
isle, with the wagon and placed the
baby back in the manger. The Priest
asked the little boy why he took the
statue? The little boy replied, "As
God the Father delivered the baby
Jesus to protect us, He (the little boy),
took Jesus to protect Jesus and
delivered Him back so He can protect
us.
Just like this little boy, at Christmas
God delivered Jesus to protect us.

There are times when difficult
circumstances can cause us to feel
that Christ has been stolen from our
Christmas. HE HAS NOT !
We know that God is for us, and we
have this wonderful assurance: "He
Who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things".
Remember nothing, absolutely nothing,
can separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus.
Look for Jesus in the manger, on the
cross, risen from the dead, and in our
hearts and our very soul.
THATS WHERE WE FIND JESUS AT
CHRISTMAS !

The "O" Antiphons. Since
the seventh century, this
set of seven prayer texts
has been sung or recited
over the final days of Advent
during the daily service of
vespers, or evening prayer.
They are voiced in response
to the Magnificat (Lk 1: 46 - 55).
Each antiphonal prayer addresses
God with "O" and a biblical name
and concludes with a call for him
to come. The phrases of the prayers
derive from Scripture. You may be
familiar with them from the verses
of the well-known Advent hymn,
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
They may be used devotionally,
one a day, from December 17 to 23.
Here are the traditional texts of the
"Great O's."

O Wisdom, O holy word of God,
you govern all creation with your
strong yet tender care: Come and
show your people the way to salvation.

O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the
burning bush, who gave him the holy
law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch
out your mighty hand to set us free.

O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have
been raised up as a sign for all peoples;
rulers stand silent in your presence; the
nations bow down in worship before you.
Come, let nothing keep you from coming
to our aid.

O Key of David, O royal power of Israel,
controlling at your will the gate of heaven:
Come, break down the prison walls of
death for those who dwell in darkness and
the shadow of death, and lead your captive
people into freedom.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light,
sun of justice: Come, shine on those who
dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Ruler of all the nations, the only joy of
every human heart, O keystone of the
mighty arch of humankind: Come and save
the creature you fashioned from the dust.

O Emmanuel, ruler and lawgiver, desire
of the nations, savior of all people: Come
and set us free, Lord our God.

On December 21, the church remembers
St. Thomas, the apostle famously known
as Doubting Thomas for his refusal to
believe in Jesus' resurrection until he had
fingered the nail marks and felt the spear
wound. After Jesus graciously
accommodated his doubt, Thomas
declared, "My Lord and my God!"(Jn 20:28).
According to tradition, he is credited with
taking the light of the gospel to India. As
his feast day falls in the week of the "O"
Antiphons, these meditative prayers can
be for us affirmations of faith and longing
in the face of doubts that we, like Thomas,
may experience.

Taken from Living the Christian Year:
Time to Inhabit the Story of God by
Bobby Gross. Copyright(c) 2009 by
Bobby Gross.
Bobby Gross is director of graduate
and faculty ministries for InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship. Bobby also
serves on the national board of
Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)
and lives in Atlanta, GA.